Red Sox Spring Training Blog: Pitchers & Catchers Report
FT. MYERS, FL (CBS) - Your 2014 Boston Red Sox are officially on the clock. Red Sox pitchers and catchers reported for duty Saturday here in Fort Myers. Manager John Farrell told the media that everyone is accounted for except for lefty Jose Mijares (expected Monday) and lefty Rich Hill (excused for personal reasons).
Under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70's, several of the Sox pitchers and catchers took to the field for a brief workout. Many positional players such as Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. also worked out.
Some brief notes from Saturday:
- Manager John Farrell and several players talked about "turning the page" on 2013 and focusing in on 2014. Farrell is basically saying that the Sox and 29 other teams are all starting out this spring just trying to win a World Series championship. 2013 has nothing to do with it.
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- Farrell said that some pitchers will have a lesser workload this spring because of how long last season went. Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz will make 5 starts instead of the usual 6 this spring while the bullpen aces such as Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, and others will have a lighter load.
- Farrell talked about using Daniel Nava and Shane Victorino atop the batting order to replace Jacoby Ellsbury...
- Farrell reported nothing new on the possibility of re-signing free agent shortstop Stephen Drew. He also said that Xander Bogaerts has been told to focus on the shortstop position. It sounds more and more as if Drew won't be coming back...
- Jake Peavy has an issue with his right index finger. He says he took a ball off the finger while working out recently and didn't think much if it at the time, but it's been bothering him. The Sox are waiting for Peavy's physical Sunday to take a better look at it...
- 37-year-old catcher David Ross looks to be in great shape. He joked that he's in "the best shape of his life" - a cliche you hear every spring about seemingly hundreds of players in baseball...
- AJ Pierzynski seems quite happy to be playing in Boston. He told the story of playing in a Single A game with David Ortiz when they were both with the Minnesota Twins organization in the late 90's. He recalled a game in the 9th inning when the opponent brought in a lefty to face Ortiz and David hit a game-winning home run. Even back then...
- Will Middlebrooks is in good shape. He told me he worked out all winter with Mike Boyle in Woburn. John Farrell is hoping to see the Middlebrooks from two years ago... not the one who struggled in his second year...
- After Jackie Bradley, Jr. put on a show last spring here in Fort Myers and got the start on opening day in New York, you have to be cautious as he begins his work down here. Bradley really struggled in the bigs last season and was sent down. However, both Ben Cheringon and John Farrell liked what they saw of the hitter when he returned in September. They felt he was much more selective at the plate. That's what they'll need from him as he tries to win the every day job in center field. Grady Sizemore may also be a factor in CF and has no restrictions down here in camp...
- Great to have baseball back... means spring in Boston can't be too far away, right?
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